title: Growth in preterm infants until six months postterm: the role of insulin and IGF-I.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) and insulin regulate growth in term infants, they were studied in relation to nutrient intake and growth until 6 months corrected age (CA) in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 138 preterm infants (51% male, gestational age (expressed as median (IQR)) 30.6 (1.9) weeks, birth weight 1,368 (389) g) weight SDS, length SDS, IGF-I, and insulin were measured at term age, 3 and 6 months CA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IGF-I and insulin at term age were associated with weight SDS and length SDS at term age and 3 months CA. IGF-I and insulin at 3 months CA were associated with weight SDS and length SDS at 3 and 6 months CA. IGF-I and insulin at term age were negatively associated with gain in weight SDS and gain in length SDS between term age and 6 months CA (IGF-I: β = -1.03, 95% CI -1.65;-0.41, p = 0.001 and β = -0.78, 95% CI -1.32;-0.23, p = 0.005; insulin: β = -0.19, 95% CI -0.37;-0.01, p = 0.044 and β = -0.18, 95% CI -0.35;-0.01, p = 0.035). Nutrient intake was not associated with IGF-I or insulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that IGF-I and insulin are important growth regulators in preterm infants until 6 months CA, independent of nutrient intake.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van de Lagemaat
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotteveel
authors.forename: Annemieke C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Heijboer
authors.forename: Harrie N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.forename: Mirjam M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Weissenbruch
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I